Cavitstinspection device



Aug- 3, 1943. w. J. CAMERON V A CAVITY INSPECTION DEVICE Filed Deo. 11, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug 3, 1943. w. J. CAMERON 1 2,325,831

GAVITY INSPECTION DEVICE med Dec. 11, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented ug. 3, 1943 UNITED y STATES PTENT! lzisloi cAvirY msrEC'rIoN DEVICE j William J. 'Cainerom lChicaigogIll, I Arnim-'oon December 11,` 194i, No.- 422532 l '11 claims My present inventionk `relates in general toxin-Y stmments for internal .inspection of inaccessible cavities, suon as the stomachaml other body cavities, and has more particular reference to instruments generally classilied 'as scopes, includ-ing gestmscopes, cystoscopes, thoracoscopes, pericmeoscopes, endoscopcs, 'and like instruments comprising tomar means usually form-ed a Y flexible kportieri for insertion in a cavity to be inspected, as through a restricdjfrequently tor tuous channel leading to the cavity, the inspection tube having usually a lamp and av-iew transmiliter at the insertionY end of the instrument, view transmitting lomos within and spaced along the tube, and en or eye piece Aat theoclrer end, lwhereby the interior of lthe cavity being inspected may be illuminated and a vi'eWtl'iei-eoi transmitted the tube of the scope for inspection at the ocular endo 'the Ydev-ice outwardly of thecavity.

An important object of tneinvention is to nrovide inspection means, in a scope ofthe character mentioned, alording a reiativelywide linspection Iield; a further obiect being to provide adjustable inspection means enabling cavity 'inspection in a plurality of directions without moving the scope from an adiusted position within the cavity being inspected. Y f

Another important obectis to provide a scope of the character mentioned having an adjustable view transmitting member in combination with means for shifting 'the view transmitting member in order to allow the device to transmitdiierent views or 'aspects of the 'cavity being' examined without altering the position of the instrument within the cavity; a further obec't being to utilize a tiltable mirror for thus transmitting a plurality of views; a still further object being ktolemploy a solenoid of minute proportions, controllable from the ocular end of the instrument, ior'ad'jus'ting the position of the mirror. l

Another important object is to provides scope having shiftabie inspection means, at the distal (c1, 12S-'Trl justmg the inspection means; la still further ooH icct beine;4 towutilize the tubular Walls 'o'f the-'lnstrmnent fas fa Astop for limiting movement-of the armature in one direction; the armature mount-` ,ing serving to limit armature movement in 2lille opposite direction. t

.Another object is to provide"conductors'vnthin and extending along the tubular instminent vfron"` between Vthe ocular and insertion endsptlrereof for actuating the lamp 'and'tlre solenoid, portions 'of said' conductors extending in longitudinal 'grooves vform-ed `in the tubular member valici fsaid .com

ductorsiceing disposed helically 'at the flexible porti-ons 'ci the instrument; a further object oein'g to arrange the helical conductor portions in a. nelicaligroovebetween abutting edges of an in-l sulati'on strip forming 'a part cf the' instrument at the il'exible ,portions thereof.

' Another important object is'toliorm tire insel-A tion enti of the instrument "as-'a rigid casing secured at the end of fa Flexible tubular portion of the instrument and to mount the lamp `and ad- 'fashionV occupying minimum space therein and Y facilitating the makinlgof electrical connections with the solenoid and the 'lamp', g'

- AnotherY important objectV residesinV utilizing three conductors for'controlling thelamp and solenoid ro'mthe ocular end of the instrument,

' whereby the lamp may be Vselectively energized or insertion end thereof, in combination with aV solenoid and a mounting for the solenoidcomi pactly formed for assembly in the extremely re* stricted space available at the distal end of the instrument; a further object being to mount the solenoid in a frame of magnetic material and to mount the shlftable inspection means on an arma# ture tiltfably supported on the solenoid mounting: a further object being to employ a springv no`r' mally urging the armature in one directionandv to provide means for energizing theV solenoidto tilt the armature in the opposite direction for sdindependently 0f the'solenod.v

lThese Vajnl numerous/otherl objects, advantages l and inherent functions of the invention will become'apparentastlie same is more fully understood Athe following description which, taken in connection 'withthe accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment 0f the inven-' tion. i v

, Referiingto the drawings: 'l

Figur-'e 1 is a perspective view of a bodyillgmy present invention;

Figure ais anenlargea seetionalview through Scope enV Figures 3, 4,*5 and 6 are sectional views taken herent resilience of the material. One end of the l flexible tube 5| is secured, as by soldering or drawings a gastroscope II, which isan instrument particularly designed for the internal inspection of the stomach by insertion through the orifice of the throat. It will be apparent, however, that the invention is not necessarily restricted to the instrument I have shown but may L be lapplied in any scope, includingv cystoscopes, thoracoscopes, peritoneoscopes, 'endoscopes and like instruments for the inspectionV of inaccessible cavities, including cavities other than body cavities.

The inspection instrument comprises a tubular structure I3 having a housing I5 at one end, usually referred to as the distal end, adapted for insertion in a cavity to be inspected, and a housing I1 at the other end of the tubular structure, said housing I1 embodying a window or ocular I9 at which the view obtained of the cavity is presented for inspection. The housing l5 contains view transmitting means indicated generally at I6, the same preferably comprising a mirror for reflecting the view longitudinally into the tubular structure I3. -which preferably comprises a exible portion adjacent the housing I5 and a relatively rigid portion adjacent the housing |1. The tubular structure' I3 contains suitable lens means disposed at intervals within the exible portion for directing the view transmitted by the mirror along said flexible portion and through the rigidportion to the ocular end of the instrument, regardless of the flexed .position ofthe instrument.

The tubular structure I 3 comprises av preferably rigid jacketing tube 2| formed with spaced annular ridges 23 near one end ofthe tube; said end being threaded as at 25 and formed with a ange 21- and having perforations 29 and 3| therethrough adjacent the flange 21. The other end of the tube 2| carries, sealed thereto, a'sleeve-like fitting formingthe housing I1. said'tting having radial nipples 33 and 35 formed, respectively, with channels 3'.' and 39 communicating withthe interior of -thetube 2|, the nipple 35 being norf mally sealed by means of a removable cap:4|.

The ocular end of the housing|1 carries a cap 43 threadedly secured thereto. said cap carrying the Ocular window 9 in axial alignment with the end of theV tube 2|.. Concentrically Within the tube 2| is disposed an inner tube 45. This tube has an end abutting the `cap 43 around the Window I9which Vis thusmounted at seid end of and in alignment with the inner tube 45. NThe opposite end of the tube 4 5 is secured in coaxial alignment with the outer tube 2| by-means of a flange 41 on theitubeli5` which engages an annular seat 49 in the threaded end of the tube 2|.

ferrule remote end of the housing. of the housing are formed with a lamp opening brazing, to one end of a ferrule 53, the opposite end of which is threaded for coupling with the threaded end 25 of the tube 2|, the ferrule 53 having an annular shoulder adapted to overlie the flange 41 of the inner tube 45 in order to securely hold the same in pla-ce on the seat 49. The other end of the flexible tube 5I is secured, as by brazing, soldering or otherwise, in A a ferrule 51 which carries', the housing I5 at the distal end of the instrument. The housing l5, as shown in Figure 7 of the drawings, is preferably cylindrical and is formed preferably in one piece, although,` of course, it may be fabricated in sections for convenient assembly. The housing, at one end, is formed to fit snugly upon the ferrule 51, the ferrule having a shoulder 59 for determining the mounted position of the housing thereon. The housing also, at its ferrule receiving end, is

. provided with an annular groove 6|.

, an inspection chamber 61"within the housing on opposite sides of the nange 63, the inspection chamber 61 being at the ferrule mounted end of the housing, the lamp chamber 65 opening at the The sides 68 and a window opening 69 formed, respectively, in the walls defining the chambers 65 and 61. The window opening 69 is fitted with a transparent Window-pane 1| which may be mounted ina col1ar13 having threaded engagement in the windowgopening 69, although the Window-pane 1|, of course, may be flttedand secured inthe opening |59Y inany suitable or preferred fashion.

Within the chamber 61 -is mounted adjustable View transmitting means which, as shown, comprises a mirror 15 which is supported on anarmature '.1, thearmature, in turn, being pivotally mounted in a support frame or mounting 19. 'Ihe mounting 19 comprises a block ofk magnetic material formed to fit snugly within the chamber i 61 and, to that end, has cylindrical surfaces in conformity with the cylindrical Walls of the chamber 61. The mounting 19 is formed with an inclined surface 8| facing toward the window 1| and has a cylindrical cavity 83 opening on said surface for the reception of a solenoid 85. The solenoid Y comprises Wire of extremely fine gauge Woundrin a coil forming a central cylindrical opening adapted to receivea'solenoid stem 81. The coiland-stem are mounted in the cavity `83 with one end of the solenoid coil S5 substantially'ush with the inclined surface 8|. The mounting 19 is cut away to form a notch 89 between spaced ears 9| in which pintles 93 are set in alignment on the opposite sides of the notch 89. The lfacing ends of thepintles 93 are formed with bearing sockets inA position to receive bearing pins 95 extending oppositely from an armature head 91. When mounted, the head 91 extends between the ears 9|, with the pins 95 received in the bearing sockets formed at the facing ends of the pintles 93. When so mounted, the armature 11 overlies. the mounting surface 8|, covers the end of the solenoid and carries the ,mirrorV 15in position Yfacing toward the win- 'I'he tubular structure I3 comprises a flexible y dow 1|. The armature 11 is normally urged in its bearings toward the surface 3| of the mounting by a ,spring 99, one end of which is secured, as bysoldering, upon the mounting 19, the other end of the spring being attached to the armature head 91.in any suitable fashion', as by anchoring it .on 5a. pin in Ythe yheadA or. by soldering. ...The mirror thus is normally presented-at an inclina tion, as shown in solid lines fin-Figure '7., 'under the 'influence of .the spring 39; By energizing the solcnoiixhowever, the stem .81 may bel projected from within the coil 85 in a 'direction to shift 'the mirror from itsnorm'al position 'to a 'tilted posi tion shown in dotted lines in .Figure 7., the tilted dotted line `position being determined by the engagement of the :armature head "91 with 'theV walls of the housingl-S. Y Y

'The mounting 19, carrying the solenoid and armature, may be assembled in the chambers! beforethe housing l5 is mounted-on the ferrule v5l by inserting the mounting yen'dwise into the chamber ilthrough the -open end of the housing. In order to 'orient the mounting in the housing.,

theV mounting may .be provided with a longitudinal groove 40| to slidingly receive `a pin set in the wall of the Lchamber 61, and the mounting J9 may be held in place by' any suitable fastening means as, for example, a screw yeid'cmiing through the wall of the housing and taking into the mounting. The .back of the'mounting 19 is supported by the flange 63 -and'may rest against a connection disk 10S held in the chamber Si upon the flange $3 bythe mounting 13.

This

connection panel preferably comprises a nonconducting material and carries a pair 'ofcoutacts |05 at the surface thereof facing'into` the lamp chamber 58 through the opening dened by the annular flange 63, The contacts |95 are' connected with conductors |81 and |59 which extend through the disk |03 and into a groove formed in the innerwalls of the chamber 61 and extending to the open ferrulesupported end of the housing. V'I'he vsolenoid coil is connected at one end to the conductor |38 and at the. other. with a conductor 13 which extends in the groove Hltogether with the conductors lill and |08.

After the disk |03 and mounting 79, with sole enoid and armature assembled thereon, have been positioned and secured in the chamber 671, with the conductors |51, |59 end l lying in the groove the housingrnay be inserted upon the end of the ferrule 51. vThe ferrule and housing may be formed with (Lo-operating tongue and lslot to determineV the relative` angular position of the housing on the ferrule, and Vthe ferrule also. outwardly of the housing, .may be formed with a groove H5 in its outer surfaces for the reception of the electrical conductors.

The flexible portion 5| of the tubular structure between the ferrules 53 and 51 is preferably' enclosed inra rubber sheath ll which embraces the member 54 between the ferrules. Outwarcllvof the rubber sheath is applied a strip `of rubber-like materialY I9 which is woundin helical turns upon the exible portion ci the tube structure, the opposite ends of the strip H9 being wrapped upon the vferiules 53 and .5l and secured thereto, by means of Arubber cement. The abutting edges of theshelically wrapped strip I9 are separated sufciently to` provide space for three electrical conductor `wires which extend in the groove H5 at one end of the ilexible tube structure and are connected. respectively, with the conductorsll, |09 .endlli as at lili. pref erably in the groove H5. At the other end of the flexible tube structure, fthe conductors are terminals 435 with the 'contacts |55.

H8 andthe conductors applied between abutting Vedges thereof maybe igiven a coating-ofirubber cement, `and an elastic nouter sheath 'of 'rubber 125 .is applied upon the flexible portion vrofthe ltube structure. 'One end of 'thissheath 4or feasing |125 extends inthe groove 6| of the housing i5 and maybe secured and vsealingly connected Y on the housing by kbinding theL same in place with a suitable fastening mament .12?.V Y The other 'end of tliesheath 172-5 extends around Lthe end of the tube r2| and maybe sea-lingly securedthereto be- Y electrically connected withl theI terminals |35,

`whereby the filament .is connected between the 'conductors |01 and H19 when the lamp is mount-- ed in the chamber 65. y

The frame 33, at one end, may be formed to :lit snugly within' thechamber 65 and may have a lug 13?! adapt-ed for sliding reception in a groove 139 formed in the Walls of thechamber `65 to orient and guidewthe .lamp support within the chamber'li in order to 'assure registration 'of the Y 'The lamp |31 may be secured inthe frame 133 by setting the lamp in a bed of plaster of Paris, or other suitable material, in the frame. The frame and lamp may be held rigidly in thechammr 65 by Y means of a plate 14| yieldingly secured in a cover cap |43, formed fory threadedenga'gement with Y the end of thecasing. The cap |43 carries "a finger |45 of soft, flexible rubber for aiding in guiding the instrument into a. cavity to be 'exe chained. This nge'r has a baseclampingiy refceived in an opening in thev cover cap and s'th'us held in rplace in axial alignmentonthe end of the` instrument. When mounted. the lamp y13| extends in the'opening-G'and theedgcs of the opening around the lamp are preferably sealed with plaster ofiParis, or other cementitious material, to render the lopening liquid-tight.' In i' order to 'rkfacilitate the insertion and removal of the lamp, the frame |33 may be formed to permit the same to be tilt-ed within the chamber 65 in` order to allow the lamp to project substantially7- into the openinga andto permit removal of the lamp from suchv projected position through the opening at theend of the chamber S5 upon removal of the cover cap |43.

In order tocontrol the operation'of `the llampY ISI and of the solenoid' at the ocular end of the. instrument, the conductors pass from 'the housing 1.1 through the' channel 3l of the nipple 33, which is preferably hermetically sealed around connected, as at |23, with correspondingconduc tors which extend through the opening 3| Yand into the tube 2|, passing thence into the housing at the ocular end of the instrument. The

. flexible `layer comprising the helically wound. strip the conductors, asv at |45. The conductors'pass from the nipple' into a -handle ML'which is secured at one end on said nipple. The other end of the handle provides a socket for an electric cable M9 .embodying two conductors for supplying electrical energyfto Ythe instrument. This` cable |49 may be provided at one end with a con'- nector |5| for connecting the cableto a suitable source of electrical power, such as the outlet socket of a house wiring system. The other end of the cable may be Vfitted with a'connectcr |53 to enable the same to be connected in the socket of the handle andthus electrically connected with the conductors' |01 and |09 leading through the instrument from the ocular endrthereof to the `lamp |3I. The handle |41 Vcarriesa switch |55 conveniently located thereon for operation, and

' this'switch, as shownin Figure 11, may be'connected in the conductor 59 and thus control the lampand thesolenoid, the lamp being energized whenever the switch I 55 is closed.

For the control of the solenoid, a switch |55` may be connected between the conductors |51 and Il 3, and the switch |56 preferably isy mounted on the housing l1 in position for convenient operation. The solenoid may comprise varnished copper wire, as the potential between adjacent turns of the coil is relatively small. The conductors for supplying energy to the solenoid and lamp preferably comprise copper wire insulated by a thin sheath of silk and varnish of sufficient dielectric strength to insulate the conductors one from the other and from the metal portions oi the instrument.

It Will' be noted that the capped nipple 35 communicates through the interior ofthe tube 2| with the interior of the expansibleV sheath |25 through the openings 2S. By applying a pressure Vdevice to the` nipple 35, the expansible sheath |25 may be inflated around the flexible portions` of the tube structure to 'facilitate the insertion and removal of the instrument .through restricted channels, such as the esophagus. After the device has been inserted into'a cavity to be inspected, the lamp |3| maybe energized by closing the switch |55. Thereupon, inspection of a portion of the cavity may be accomplished by looking through the Window I9 with the mirror in the position shown in solid lines in Figure '1. In such position, a view may be had of a localized section within thev cavity being examined. By closing the switch |55, the solenoid 85 may be energized to throw the mirror into the shifted position illustrated in dotted linesl in-Figure 7, in'which position a view of ardiiferent portion of the cavity being examined may be had.V vThe displacement of the mirror maybe made such obvious that numerous changes may vbe made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any o-f its attendant advantages, the form herein disclosed being a preferred embodiment for the purpose ofillustrating the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. An instrument for cavity inspection, comprising tubular means having a flexible portion, a distal end comprising a housing for placement in a cavity to be inspected, and an ocular end having an eye-piece, a View transmitting member in said housing in position to receive a view within a iield radiallyrof the housing and to transmit the view longitudinally of the instrument to said eye-piece, and operable means for shifting the said transmitting member in said housing where- -byto alter the` field of View of 'the transmitting member.

2. An instrumentfor cavity inspection, comprising tubular means havingA aflexible portion, a distal end comprising a housing for placement in a cavity to be inspected, an ocular end having an eye-piece, a View transmitting member in said housing in position to receive a view'within a field radially of the housing and to transmit the view longitudinally of the instrument to said eyepiece, and operable means for shifting the said transmitting member in said housing whereby tov alter the field of view of the transmitting member, said operable means comprising an electro-magnetic device and electrical circuit means for controlling the operation thereof, comprising conductors extending in the instrument between its ocular and distal ends and electrically connected with said electro-magnetic means, and switch means at the ocular end of the instrument and electrically connected in said circuit means for controlling the operation oi said electromagnetic means.

3. An instrument for cavity inspection, comprising tubular means having a flexible portion, a distal end comprising a housing for placement in a cavity to be inspected, an ocular end having an eye-piece, a view transmitting member in 'said housing in position to receive a view within a eld radially of the housing and to transmit the View longitudinally of the instrument to said eyepiece, and operable means for shifting the said transmitting member in said housing whereby to alter the iield of View ofthe transmitting member, said housing comprising a sleeve-like member removably Vmounted at and forming a chamber opening into the end of said tubular means, said chamber having a lateral window opening,.said view transmitting member and said operable means forming an assembly unit mounted in said chamber and comprising a mounting forming a solenoid shell having a coil cavity and a face forming an armature seat facing said window opening, a solenoid coil in said cavity, an armature tiltably supported on said mounting in normal position overlying said armatureseat and carrying the view transmitting member thereon in position normally to receive a view in a limited field through said window and to transmit the view longitudinally into the end of the tubular means, and means to energize the solenoid coil to tilt the armature from normal to shifted position andfthus alter Vthe field of view of the transmitting member.

4. An' instrument for cavity inspection, comprising tubular means having a flexible portion, a distal end comprisinga housing vfor placement in a' cavity tobe inspected, an ocular end having an eye-piece, a view transmitting member in said housing in position to receive avieW within a eld radially of the housing and to transmit the view longitudinally of the instrument to said eyepiece, and operable meansfor shifting the said transmitting member in said housing whereby to alter the field of View of the vtransmitting member, said housing comprising a sleeve-like member removablymounted at and forming a chamber opening into the end of the tubular means, said chamber having a lateral window opening, said operable means and said view transmitting member being mounted in said chamberv with the transmitting member in position to receive a view in a limited field through the window and to transmit the yview into the end of the tubular means, said housing having lamp mountand to transmit the View into-the end ofthe tubular means,y said housing having an extension forming a lamp chamber at the end of the housing remote from the tubular means, said exten sion rbeing formed with a late-ral lamp Window opening and' a lamp in said lamp chamber in position in said lamp Window opening to illuminate the iield'of view of said transmitting memy Y ber, and a contact plate insaid housing between said chambers and providing lamp contacts and yconductors connected with said contacts and With saidoperable means and extending to the ocular end of the instrument forv electrically-energizing 'the lamp and the operable means.

10. An instrument forcavityinspection, cornprising tubular means having aV flexible'portion, a distal end comprising a housing for placement in Aa cavity to be inspected, andan ocular` end l lar means and a lamp supported in said lamp mounting in position to illuminate the field of view of said transmitting member, and conductor` means connected tothe lamp and extending in said housingV vand along saidA tubular Ameans to the ocular end of the instrument for electrically energizing the lamp, said conductor extending between the mounted end'of' the housingand a ferrule forming theportion of the tubular means on which the housing is mounted, the-,co-operating surfaces ofthe ferrule vand of thehousing thereon being grooved to receive the conductor means. n fr V"11. An instrument for cavity inspection -comprising tubular means having a iiexible portion, a distal end comprising a housing for placement in a cavity to be inspected, an ocular end having an eye-piece, `a mirror mounted in said housing at an anglefwith respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing-in position to receive a view within a eld radially of the housing and to transmit the view longitudinally of the instrument to said eyepiece,and means operable at the ocular end of the instrument for changing the angle at which the mirror is mounted with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

' Y v WILLIAM J. CAMERON. 

